NTSB Takes Small Plane From Hudson River Crash To Del. For Study
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Federal investigators say the small plane that landed safely on the Hudson River last month has been taken to Delaware for study.
The National Transportation Safety Board posted preliminary findings Wednesday on its website, but no conclusions about the cause of the crash.
EXTRA: More From NTSB
Deniece De Priester of East Windsor, N.J., landed the Piper six-seater, its engine sputtering, into the Hudson River off Yonkers on Jan. 27.
The NTSB said she was unable to maintain altitude, despite applying heat to combat icing.
De Priester and her passenger, Christopher Smidt of Colonia, N.J., were rescued from the frigid waters by Yonkers police.
"I really thought that was it," Smidt said last month. "I couldn't feel any part of my body."
They suffered no serious injuries. Smidt credited De Priester's experience and quick thinking for keeping them alive.
"Because of how she landed the plane, we were both able to get out," he said. "That landing that she did was the first part of that rescue operation. She initially saved our lives."
The NTSB said the plane's rudder and landing gear were damaged. It's been taken to a storage facility in Clayton, Del.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
